Battery terminal connecter



May 25, 1937.

J. PARMESOYN BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed Nov. 20, 1955 CII atenteclMay 25|, 1937 UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFIQE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a battery terminal connecter and moreparticularly pertains Vto the connection between an electrical conductorand a binding post on electrical batteries of the type employed in theelectrical systems of motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a connecter of the yabovecharacter embodying aY clamp adapted to be -aiiixed to the end of anelectrical conductor and to be detachably clamped into frictionalengagement with Ythe binding post or terminal of a battery in whichmeans are provided for protecting the clamp and the post againstbecoming corroded under the action of acid fumes emanating from thebattery around Ithe base of the post.

Another object is to form the connecter clamp so 'as to obtain themaximum of resiliency therein, whereby connection of the clamp to thebinding post and its removal therefrom will be facilitated.

Another object is to provide a construction in the connecter whereby theelectrical conductor affixed thereto will be held in -an elevatedposition relative to the top wall of a battery box and wherebyapplication and removal of the clamp is facilitated.

With the foregoing objects in View together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear the invention is carried intoeffect as illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the connecter clamp showing it asdetached:

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Va gasket employed in conjunction withthe connecter clamp shown in NFig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the connecter showing it Vasapplied to the binding post of -a battery:

Fig. 4 is a detail in section as seen on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 withparts in elevation depicting the manner in which the connecter clamp andgasket shown in Figs. 1 and 2 serve to seal the joint between thebinding post and the adjacent surface of the top wall of the batterybox: Fig. 5 Vis a plan View of the connecter showing is as applied.

Fig. 6 is a view of a modified form `of the connecter clampV showing itin side elevation with a portion broken away:

Referring `to the drawing more specifically Aindicates generallytheconnecter clamp, B designates a binding post of a battery on which theconnecter clamp A is designed to be mounted,

and C denotes a gasket designed to be positioned to encircle the base ofthe post B and to be associated with `the clamp A with the gasketinterposed between the clamp and the top wall of the battery box at thebase of the binding post B.

As here shown the clamp A embodies a substantially U-shaped body portionincluding an arcuate end member l formed to telescopically receive andto encompass the upper end portion of the terminal B. The clamp alsoembodies a pair of spaced leg members 8 and 9 formed in continuation ofthe side portions of the arcuate end member l. A bolt I0 is passedthrough -aligned openings H formed in the leg members 3 land 9 inlongitudinal slidable engagement with the latter;` a head I2 on the boltbearing against a recessed flat surface I3 on the outer side of the legvmember 8 with one edge of the head I2 abutting a shoulder I4 on the leg8 whereby the bolt will be held against rotation when the head I2 isseated on the recessedsurface I3.

A nut I5 is screwed on the threaded end of the bolt I0 to bear againstthe outer face of the leg 9 as particularly shown in Fig. 5 and whentightened on thel bolt'l IIJ serves to clamp the arcuate end portion 'Iinto tight engagement with the post B.

Formed on the leg y3 and extending in continuation thereof is a ferruleI6 in the form of a split cylinder within which is mounted in a usualfashion the terminal of an electrical conductor I1, by whichconstruction the conductor will extend in continuation of one of the legmembers of the clamp.

'I'he binding post B comprises the conventional terminal of the type ofStorage batteries employed in the electrical systems of motor vehicles,being frusto-conical in form and having an annular flange I8 at the basethereof which seats on the surface of the top wall D oi the battery box.The inner periphery of the arcuate end portion 'I of the clamp istapered to conform to the upper end. portion of the binding post B.

Formed on the clamp A and protruding from the under side thereof asshown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 4

and 5, is a series of spaced prongs I9 which arel curveddownwardly andoutwardly from their intersection with the lower margin of the clamp asparticularly shown in Fig. 4. These prongs are designed to serve a'twofold purpose, namely to act as spacers to retain the clamp A in anelevated position on Athe binding post B and in spaced relation to thetop wall D of the battery box and at the same time serve to tightlycompress the gasket C which is interposed between the clamp and the topwall of the battery box.

The gasket C is formed with a circular opening 20 to accommodate thebinding post B and is made of felt or similar soft fibrous materialwhich when applied is saturated with an oil, grease or otheranti-corrosion substance, and when applied is positioned around the baseportion of the binding post to overlie the base flange i5 of the latteras particularly shown in Fig. 4.

The outer margin of the gasket C is formed with a bevel 2l on which theout-turned lower ends of the prongs E9 seat and whereby on pressing theprongs downwardly on the margin of the gasket the latter will be causedto snugly conform to the flange I 3 and eiect a tight seal of the jointbetween the binding post and the top wall D of the battery box, andwhereby the escape of acid fumes around the juncture of the post andbattery box is effectively prevented.

As a means for affording adequate protection against the possibility ofacid fumes rising against the under side of the ferrule I6 and the boltIG, the gasket C is formed with a side elongation 22 to overlie theportion of the surface of the battery box extending beneath the ferrulei6 and bolt lll, as particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

In the application and operation of the invention the saturated gasket Cis iirst positioned around the binding post B to snugly conform to thebase portion thereof and to overlie the flange i8. The clamp A is thenpositioned to encompass the upper portion of the binding post B with theprongs i9 bearing tightly against the marginal portion of the gasket totightly press the latter in place whereupon the clamp is caused totightly engage the binding post by tightening the nut i5 on the bolt l.

The prongs will then also serve to dispose the clamp A in an elevatedposition relative to the top surface of the battery box therebysupporting the conductor Vl and its engaging ferrule I6 clear of thebattery box, and also positioning the clamping nut i5 in such spacedrelation to the battery box as to enable its easy adjustment on the boltID.

By connecting the conductor Il to extend in continuation of one of theleg members of the clamp the arcuate member 'l of the clamp will be freeto ex throughout its entire length and whereby a maximum of resiliencyis afforded which serves to facilitate application and removal of theclamp as compared with the type of U-shaped terminal connection in whichthe conductor is aiixed to the connected portion of the clamp.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 an apron 23 is formed on the lowermargin of the clamp A to serve as a spacer in lieu of the prongs I9, andwhich apron functions in a fashion similar to that of the prongs inengaging the gasket C and also in spacing the clamp from the batterybox.

I claim:

1. A battery terminal connecter comprising a clamp having an arcuate endmember for encompassing a battery post and formed with leg membersextending in continuation of the end portions of the arcuate member,means for attaching an electrical conductor to said clamp, a clampingbolt connecting said leg members, and spacing means protruding downwardfrom the lower margin of said clamp for limiting engagement of the clampto the upper portion of a battery post.

2. A battery terminal connecter comprising a clamp having an arcuate endmember for encompassing a battery post and formed with leg membersextending in continuation of the end portions of the arcuate member,means for attaching an electrical conductor to said clamp, a clampingbolt connecting said leg members, spacing means protruding downward fromthe lower margin of said clamp for limiting engagement of the clamp tothe upper portion of a battery post, and a gasket encircling the baseportion of the battery post engaged by said spacing means for preventingescape of acid around the base of the battery post.

3. A battery terminal connecter comprising a substantially U-shapedclamp for engagement with a battery post, said clamp being formed with aseries of spaced prongs protruding down ward from the lower marginthereof, and means for attaching an electrical conductor to said clamp.

4. A battery terminal connecter comprising a substantially U-shapedclamp for engagement with a battery post, said clamp being formed with aseries of spaced prongs protruding downward from the lower marginthereof, means for attaching an electrical conductor to said clamp, anda gasket encircling the base portion of the post for sealing the jointaround the base of the battery post; said gasket having a marginarranged for engagement by said prongs.

5. A battery terminal connecter comprising a substantially U-shapedclamp for engagement with a battery post, said clamp being formed with aseries of spaced prongs protruding downward from the lower marginthereof, and means on one end of one of the leg members of said clampfor engaging the terminal of an electrical conductor.

6. A battery terminal connecter comprising a substantially U-shapedclamp for engagement with a battery post, said clamp being formed with aseries of spaced prongs protruding downward from the lower marginthereof, and means on one end of one of the leg members of said clampfor engaging the terminal of an electrical conductor, and a gasketencircling the base of a battery post to seal the joint around the baseof the battery post; said gasket having a margin arranged for engagementby said prongs and formed with an extension to underlie the conductorengaging means.

7. A battery terminal connecter comprising a clamp having an arcuate endmember for encompassing a battery post and formed with leg membersextending in continuation of the end portions of the arcuate member, aclamping bolt connecting said leg portions, means on one end of one ofthe leg members for engaging the vterminal of an electrical conductor,spacing means protruding downward from the lower margin of said clampfor limiting engagement of the clamp to the upper portion of a batterypost, and a gasket encircling the base portion of the battery post toseal the joint around the base of the battery post, said gasket havingan outer margin arranged for engagement by said spacing means and formedwith an extension to underlie the conductor engaging means.

JOSEPH PARMESON.

